Surfing Waves

I'm considering a Hobie Peter Pan Slug for my beginner's board. I don't think I'll go the softboard route. I've read so much about what size to get based on height, weight and so forth I've read/heard a lot of good things about the Slug; I'm partial to the Hobie brand. I live in Southern New Jersey, small waves, etc. I've also read that the Slug floats like slightly longer boards. Folks at the shop are very helpful, but I'm not feeling a lot of knowledge about the Slug in particular. From a lot I've read/heard the 9'4" might be better for me in this particular board; whereas, I might be better off with a 9'6" in some other board.

So, I thought I would see what you folks can offer. These are the two prospects (PU not Epoxy).

9'4" 23.65 3.125 or 9'6" 23.75 3.125? (No volume specs.)

I'm 5'10" 185ish lbs. and starting/beginner

Thanks.

I don’t know the board but looking at it online I doubt you need a 9’6. Even a 9’4 might be a bit excessive - as in you could probably go around 9ft. But it won’t make a huge difference

Whether the board design itself is a good choice I don’t know. It looks fine from pictures

(Just a joke) - Two inches won't matter............... ask all your past girlfriends

( Seriously ) - Two inches won't matter. In terms of catching waves, they're so close ( especially being the same thickness and almost the same width ). Between 9'0" and 9'6" there's more of a difference, but not between 9'4" and 9'6". Two inches more or less isn't going to keep you from pearling, isn't going to keep you from falling off, isn't going to get you out past the white water any quicker.

You said you're a "starter/beginner",
1) so what boards and what size have you been learning on ? 9'6"s ?
2) Have you ridden softboards in your lessons ? What size were they ?
If this is your "learning" board, try not to put so much thought into it. Get one or the other and go surf ! It's not going to matter.

Oh, Please listen to the advice given at your local surf shop. They know the surf break and probably know you better than any of use a half way around the world. If you doubt them, why trust us ?

By the way, why not epoxy ?

Thanks, guys. I was thinking the same; two inches is not that much. There are a couple of 9'2" Slugs also. I do trust the guys at the shop. I've talked to a couple of them and they are quite knowledgeable, but they weren't really familiar with the Peter Pan Slug itself. They don't have it in stock but will be glad to get it, since they are a Hobie dealer. When I say "beginner" I should say, "haven't begun yet." I surfed a little many, many years ago, so I have to call myself a beginner again. Used a 9'6" then, but that was the standard in the mid-60s.

I'd like to get this to both learn on and use thereafter because I'm in my late 60s now and won't be building a quiver. Just want to go out and have fun.

If you're now in your 60's, and starting again. Look at the 9'6" or bigger. 9'2" won't be enough, unless you do other watersports ( bodyboarding, Sup etc. ). Of course, I am not familiar with east-coast waves. If they're pitchy and dumpy and hard to get into early, maybe you can go smaller. But I think. 9'6" is the call. Especially if that's what the local shop advised.

I ridden both the 8'6" and 9'6" versions on the Peter Pan Slug in molded-epoxy from Surftech. Great all-around board. The thickness at the tip of the nose is the same/more than the thickness on the rail of other longboards. The 8'6" could out paddle some regular shape 9'0"s. And the 9'6" was stable as a 10'0".

Thanks. I thought a 9'2" might be too short. I think the 9'6" will be good for me. Thanks again for all the information.

One more question (sorry, I'm trying to learn as much as I can), will there be much practical difference between Slugs that are 23 3/4 w. & 3 1/8 th. and 23 1/8 w. & 3 1/4 th.? Both are 9'6".

9'6''. Definitely.